Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, September 13, 2003
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Saturday, September 13, 2003 |
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The Hindu experience 
100 Mount Road, the home of The Hindu from 1883 to 1939.
You may like The Hindu or you may not, but no one interested in the public word can ignore it, particularly on its 125th birthday. Its record has been enviable. One of the first major `Opposition' papers in colonial times, The Hindu's involvement in the struggle for independence was considerable. For the past 50 years, it has been one of the country's biggest and most successful newspapers. Technologically, The Hindu has always led where others have followed. Its success in large part has been due not only to its editors and management but, more importantly, to its talented pool of employees — some of whom today represent the third generation working in the organisation. It is a paper that has made a significant contribution to the history and development of the country over the last 125 years. It is that story I narrate here today. My own involvement with The Hindu is over 65 years old, the last 50 of them part of a daily ritual. Jawaharlal Nehru felicitated "The Old Lady of Mount Road" once thus: "The Hindu always reminds me of an old maiden lady, very prim and proper, who is shocked if a naughty word is used in her presence. It is eminently the paper of the bourgeois, comfortably settled in life. Not for it is the shady side of existence, the rough and tumble and conflict of public life. Several other newspapers of moderate views have also this `old maiden lady' standard. They achieve it, but without the distinction of The Hindu and, as a result, they become astonishingly dull in every respect." But The Hindu was not always like that. In its infancy and youth it regularly tilted at conservatism and orthodoxy. And in those early years, it never shunned "the rough and tumble and conflict of public life." Only it was never strident, although on occasion it could be quite sensational. There have been times in The Hindu's history when it seemed it had settled down to the complacency and dullness of prosperity. In recent times, however, the newspaper has started to shake off many of those images of stodginess and begun to kick up its heels a bit. But even that is done with all the dignity and rectitude of tradition — very much a reflection of 21st century India, where the East and the West share space in everyday life. — S. Muthiah
THE SUBRAMANIA AIYAR ERA THE KASTURI RANGA IYENGAR ERA 
MAKING NEWS THE FAMILY BUSINESSFor a while after Subramania Aiyer left The Hindu, it seemed the growing tree might wither. The 12 pages contained far less news, much more non-controversial views, and six pages of advertising. But despite a Sunday supplement, introduced ... THE ERA OF THE COUSINS 
A CLARION CALL AGAINST THE RAJAn ardent Congressman, an admirer of Tilak and direct action, but above all a man who sought a new and free India, Kasturi Ranga Iyengar made the voice of The Hindu "a clarion call that might annoy but could not be ignored." Throughout his ... THE KASTURI SRINIVASAN ERA 
TREADING SOFTLY - BUT MODERNISING APACEThe old era ended and the paper passed into a new one when Kasturi Ranga Iyengar's full-length portrait was unveiled in 100 Mount Road in March 1925 by Mahatma Gandhi. By the time Kasturi Srinivasan took over The Hindu, he had a sound investment ... INTO THE PRESENT 
DEVELOPING A PAPER FOR A NEW READERWith the death of Kasturi Srinivasan who was very much in charge of everything at The Hindu, there was bound to be considerable change in style in the management of the organisation. Without that dominant personality around, there was likely to ... Send: Comments to: thehindu@vsnl.com Letters to the Editor to: letters@thehindu.co.in with full postal address |
   
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